Replica plan for Lock Museum

A replica of Willenhall's under-threat Lock Museum could be built in the grounds of the Black Country Living Museum after a fresh bid was submitted to planning chiefs.

The Locksmith's House in New Road closed to the public in December last year, after English Heritage blocked a plan to move the building brick-by-brick to the museum in Dudley.

The new plans would see all the exhibits currently on show at the house, including original fixtures and machinery, transferred to the Tipton Road attraction.

Museum bosses are staying tight-lipped about the cost of the scheme as they are awaiting the results of a series of funding applications.

It is the latest twist in the saga of the Lock Museum, coming just weeks after developers revealed they hoped to build a new heritage centre in Willenhall dedicated to the tradition of lock-making, along with an adjoining gift shop and community centre.

Ian Walden, director and chief executive of the Black Country Living Museum, said: "We believe the best future for the Locksmith's House in Willenhall is to relocate it to the Black Country Living Museum.

"If this is not possible then we intend to create an accurate replica at the museum. The Locksmith's House would be seen by more than 300,000 visitors if relocated to the Black Country Living Museum.

A campaign group, The Friends of Willenhall Lock Museum, was set up to fight for the museum's future.

Members today said they would work with museum bosses to make sure a satisfactory solution was reached.

Friends secretary Rupy Pandaal said: "What we want to do is continue to work with them to retain some form of Lock Museum in Willenhall but we don't see this as a threat anymore. We understand why they want to have something on their site but we don't want everything to be taken away."